Hearn (1850-1904), known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo, was an international writer known best for his books about Japan, especially his collections of Japanese legends and ghost stories. Having previously lived and worked in the USA, notably in New Orleans, he moved to Japan in 1890 where he obtained various teaching positions, ultimately fulfilling the role of Lecturer in Literature at Tokyo Imperial University. He married the daughter of a samurai family with whom he had four children. This selection of Hearn's early writings was first published in 1911.